DEPARTMENT: TECHNOLOGY
The New System
that Uses Sound to
Alleviate Water Shortage
t
Concordia University researchers have developed
a technique to locate underground leaks with
99.5 percent accuracy
The world is approaching
a
water crisis. According to the International
Water Management Institute, 33 percent
of the world's population will experience
water scarcity by 2025.
One main cause is leaks. Twenty
to 30 percent of treated water is lost
in systems because of this simple and
fixable problem.
Repairs need to be as precise
as possible because excavation and
resurfacing is a costly undertaking. Digging
up more than one location, or more area
than is needed for the repair, can lead to a
problematic domino effect including traffic
disruption, commuter frustration and loss
of business.
Meanwhile, there are major public
health risks associated with contaminants
entering the water system through holes
in pipes.
Luckily, researchers from Concordia
University in Montreal have an innovative
solution. In an article recently published by
the American Society of Civil Engineers,
Tarek Zayed, professor in the Department
of Building, Civil and Environmental
Engineering, shows how a special tool
called a noise logger can detect leaks
accurately and efficiently before major
roadwork is required.
"This approach can reduce the
duration of a leak, as well as the cost
and time involved in locating the site
in need of repair," says Zayed, who
co-wrote the article with post-doctoral
Researchers use noiselogging technology to locate
leaks in water networks.
Photo: K. Lacasse (Flickr CC)
fellow Mohammed S. El-Abbassy, recent
graduate Fadi Mosleh and Ahmed Senouci
from the University of Houston and
Qatar University.
For the study, the researchers went
all the way to Doha, Qatar to test their
theories. The small nation has one of the
lowest precipitation rates in the world,
as well as one of the highest evaporation
rates-meaning the little rain that falls is
quickly reabsorbed by the atmosphere as
water vapor.
"Qatar is currently facing significant
challenges regarding its water supply,"
explains Zayed. "Its water distribution
network currently suffers from 30 to 35
percent water loss due to leakage."
Working on-site at Qatar University,
the team installed the noise loggers along
the institution's main water network and
used them to record the constant noise
generated by a leak over a two-hour time
period. They then analyzed the readings,
comparing sound level and sound spread.
A consistent anomaly meant a leak
investigation was required.
Over several weeks of monitoring they
collected data from across 140 different
points. They then ran simulations using
mathematical models to determine
the location of the leaks. The facilities
management team at Qatar University
reported back on the actual locations and
found that the team had estimated with
99.5 percent accuracy.
For Zayed and his team, the next step
is to collect leak-data surveys of real-life
pipelines from municipalities that use
noise loggers and develop customized leak
location prediction models. ●
RURAL WATER
35

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